Throw Back Thursday Pics

Here are a few old photographs I posted on Instagram for Throw back Thursday.

I think this first one is Luke and Ellie but Elspeth and Autumn's little girl picture look so similar it is hard to tell. 

This one is pre-gray hair for me

Here is Ellie helping out with the yard in Phoenix.  Can't believe she is about to have a baby herself.

Always need to include a picture of Silas in his underwear.  There are so many photos like this it makes me wonder did he ever wear pants?

A young me feeding a one of our babies.

Black and White - Photographs Sometimes Lie

Someone sent me this photo a couples weeks ago. 

Probably taken in the late 1960's, I'm guessing 1968.  I'm sitting on my Dad's lap.  My younger sister on my Mom's lap, while my older sister is in the back. This is a rare photo of my family.  I don't remember it being taken and it is only one I have of us together.

My parents divorced in the early 1970's (1972?).

The picture depicts a typical family sitting down with smiles. We really weren't that kind of family as I would find out a few years later.

When I see the pictures on Instagram and Facebook everyone is documenting snatches of time to show their friends.  I've read that people can become discontent with their own lives while looking at those sites - everyone else seems to be so happy and nobody has any problems.

Pictures sometimes lie.

The Boys, The Girls, The Littles

We are not a normal family. That is not something we celebrate or aspired to.  It just happened. The fact we have nine kids is just the tip of the iceberg of our atypicality (a new word).  One part of our family culture is giving group names to sets of our children. 

The Boys - Silas, Paul, Nathan, and Luke 

The oldest four.  We started saying this after just the Paul was born.

The Girls - Ellie and Autumn

So stunned to have girls they were promptly named this to distinguish them from The Boys.

The Littles - Abe, Peter and Hanni

They aren't real fond of this name but of course the older siblings call them this all the time.

These pictures started me thinking about The Boys:

The Boys 2013 - Luke's Wedding

These guys spent hours upon hours playing together.  It is heart warming to seem them interact as adults.  After a few years of becoming individuals and adults they are once again able to hang out together and have fun.

Being a parent is hard work but these pictures show a little of the reward.

Yes, We Spent a Week's Vacation in Arkansas!

We kicked off the 2013 summer fun with a trip to Arkansas.  Here we are getting ready to leave for Portland.  We left Wednesday afternoon because our plane left PDX at 5:45 am.  That is early for this crew.

Everyone looks happy except that Abe doesn't want to be hugged by Peter.  Autumn already has her sunglasses on even though she has a sweatshirt on.

If you are wondering why would anyone go to Arkansas for vacation, perhaps this picture helps explain. My parents live in Hot Springs Village - a gated retirement city.  Their house is on a beautiful lake and it is like visiting an upscale resort.  

View from Balboa Lake looking at my parent's backyard

Here is another picture taken from the boat but a little further away.

Ellie and Jer were able to join us for a few days before they headed back to Mississippi.  They had just spent 2+ weeks storm chasing in the Midwest. Ellie is pregnant and was craving strange food during the enitre time.  So here is a picture of where she liked to spend time. The dinner table. Just kidding.

  
Before they left town we took a few pictures.

  
With that beautiful lake right outside the door we spent as much time on the water as possible.  Here are a few more pictures.

Getting Ready, Life Preservers

Couldn't go on the boat without a checking phone first

Hanni and Dad getting ready

Grandpa patiently driving the boat

Getting Pulled around

Autumn and Ellie - We had to go slow because of the baby

Abe and Pete getting ready

Yes, We Love Each Other

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I don't find that to be true that often.  In the case of the photo below I think it does!
At Luke and Emily's wedding photo's were taken by a family friend - Natalie.  she did a fantastic job. This photograph is an example of her work.  I know it is is wrong to comment on pics that have yourself in them but Iwill flaunt that convention and say I love this picture. And I love Gina!
Time to get this one printed and hang up somewhere.

We actually are even more in love than this photo shows!

The Snider Family Portrait 2013

Just saw the first wedding photos.  I was eagerly anticipating this family picture and was not disappointed.

All of us together, which doesn't happen that often.  And as you can see we have another grandchild due in a couple weeks.  Not so apparent is that Ellie is also with child.  So not long until this photo is out of date.

Until that day, I will enjoy this one.

Congratulations Luke and Emily.

Old Photographs #2

Sisters -  Ellie was so happy to have a sister to share life with.  Here she is holding Autumn.  Autumn is young in this one, she can't hold her head up. 

Here are they are a few years later.  Autumn is so happy and Ellie looks like she just did something wrong.  I also see the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons on the couch.

Looks like Luke did something wrong but this is his typical look.  I think he is holding Elspeth.

If only Abe was still this happy when the cat was sitting on his lap.

A couple really rare sites.  First Babbo. He is with Silas in this one.

Add caption

And Scott with no beard and only two kids. 

Family portrait taken in Phoenix.  We never had money for portraits. This one was taken right after Luke's birth.  The occasion was the church directory.

Taken on one of the most beautiful days I've experienced on the Oregon Coast.  Short sleeves and you can see forever.

Pictures 1985 to 1995ish

I'm trying to be disciplined about going through some of our old pictures. We have a large box filled with photos from the pre-digital age.  My hope is to scan the good ones and even post a few.

First some pictures of Autumn and Ellie. 

Grandma holding Autumn and Scott holding Ellie

Autumn just hours after being born. 

Autumn being cute in Dad's lap

This picture has something you never see - Paul wearing shorts!  I love Nathan in the shades.  Taken at Luke's fourth birday.

The Five oldest at Luke's Fourth Birthday

First known picture of the special birthday chocolate pound cake.

Luke's Cake

Paul with a mullet. 

Who is peaking out from behind the door.  This was taken in Phoenix in 1990.  I can tell because Nathan is in the picture and we don't have a yard yet.

Silas and Nathan

At the Hotel Pool with Granpa

Perhaps the rarest person in our photos - Aunt Suzy. 

Aunt Suzy and Silas in Ridgecrest, CA

Silas and Paul Painting in Phoenix

On the train in Scottsdale, Arizona

Silas and Paul - Scottsdale, Arizona

A picture with what Gina calls the ugliest couch in the world. We were thankful for it but didn't shed a tear when it was taken to the dump.

Gina, Silas and Paul

Paul - why doesn't he want the cheesecake?

A real early photo. Taken in 1986 - Novato, California.  The grandparents home.  We had just graduated from Cal Poly.

Gina and Silas - Novato, California 1986

Grandpa and Silas -Novato, CA 1986

Grandma and Silas - Novato, CA 1986